Big Five was founded on a vision of exploring our planet in responsible and enjoyable ways. That remains at the core of our small and purposeful travel company. Our commitment to providing great travel experiences with meaning dates back to the beginnings of Big Five in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1973, the founder and CEO, Mahen Sanghrajka, had a dream to share the Africa that he loved with small groups of like-minded travelers.

Early on, he became part of a group of tour operators who established a code of ethics for wildlife safaris that included things that seem obvious today that were not in the mid-19770s such as prohibiting smoking in national parks, and training guides to respect wildlife by not disturbing them by driving too close to animals.  In 2007, we founded the nonprofit Spirit of Big Five Foundation. It aims to broaden the scope and depth of our support for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, protecting cultural heritage and supporting poverty alleviation, education and healthcare initiatives in the places we visit.

What is Sustainable Travel today all about anyway?